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May 11, 2023 · The 7 chakras are the energy centers of the body. Here, we introduce each one—where it is on the body, what it stands for, and what it means to open it. Our guide to each chakra, broken down with everything you need to know.
- Overview
- What are chakras?
- What are the 7 main chakras?
- What does it mean if a chakra is blocked or unbalanced?
- Can a blocked chakra affect your health?
- How can you unblock a chakra?
- The bottom line
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The crown of your head, your throat, and your heart are just a few of the energy centers in your body. Unblock or balance these chakras with yoga poses, breathing exercises, or meditation.
If you’ve ever taken a yoga or meditation class, had an energy healing session like reiki, or just watched online videos about those subjects, you’ve no doubt heard about chakras and the role they play in the flow of energy in your body.
You may have also learned that it’s important to keep your chakras open, or unblocked.
But what exactly are chakras and how do they affect your physical and emotional well-being?
In Sanskrit, the word “chakra” means “disk” or “wheel” and refers to the energy centers in your body. These wheels or disks of spinning energy each correspond to certain nerve bundles and major organs.
To function at their best, your chakras need to stay open, or balanced. If they get blocked, you may experience physical or emotional symptoms related to a particular chakra.
There are seven main chakras that run along your spine. They start at the root, or base, of your spine and extend to the crown of your head. That said, some people believe you have at least 114 different chakras in the body.
The chakras most often referred to are the seven main ones that we’ll explore in more detail below.
Root chakra
The root chakra, or Muladhara, is located at the base of your spine. It provides you with a base or foundation for life, and it helps you feel grounded and able to withstand challenges. Your root chakra is responsible for your sense of security and stability.
Sacral chakra
The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is located just below your belly button. This chakra is responsible for your sexual and creative energy. It’s also linked to how you relate to your emotions as well as the emotions of others.
Solar plexus chakra
The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is located in your stomach area. It’s responsible for confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping you feel in control of your life.
Diane Malaspina, PhD, a yoga medicine therapeutic specialist, says she prefers to think of chakras as out of balance versus blocked.
“There can be a depletion of energy flow or too much energetic activity in a chakra — each will manifest into different outcomes,” she explained.
When a chakra is low in energy, she said, you’ll have difficulty expressing the particular qualities associated with that chakra.
When a chakra is overactive, Malaspina said, the qualities are a dominant force in the person’s life. This can have both physical and emotional effects.
For example, the first chakra is about security, survival, and the foundation of our life.
If it’s underactive, Malaspina said, it can show up as depression and insecurity. If there’s too much energy, it can show up as fearlessness without precaution or hoarding because you need more to feel secure.
In general, the location of the chakra that’s out of balance may affect the parts of your body in close proximity to that chakra, according to Malaspina.
This includes your organs, bones, joints, and tissues near that area.
Psychologically, she says, imbalances in the chakras may cause an emotional imbalance.
This may lead to increased anger, sadness, fear, or indecisiveness.
“It’s important to pay attention to both the psychological and physiological sensations because they can inform each other and uncover the root cause of the experience,” said certified yoga teacher and master reiki healer, Guadalupe Terrones.
According to Terrones, experiencing too much stress — physically or mentally — may cause one or more chakras to be out of balance.
According to Malaspina, a great way to promote balance in a chakra is to create alignment in your physical body through:
•yoga postures
•breathing practices to encourage the flow of energy
•meditation to bring about clarity of mind
Chakras refer to various energy centers in your body that correspond to specific nerve bundles and internal organs.
The seven major chakras run from the base of your spine to the top of your head. If these energy centers get blocked, you may experience physical or emotional symptoms related to a particular chakra.
One way you may be able to unblock or rebalance your chakras is by doing certain yoga poses. Specific breathing exercises and meditation practices may also help.
If you’re not sure where to start or just want to know more about your chakras and how they may affect you, consider working with a professional energy healer, such as a reiki practitioner, or a certified yoga instructor.
Chakras are energy centers or portals in your body that regulate your body-mind connection. Learn about the seven main chakras, their functions, colors, elements, and how to balance them with yoga, breathing, and meditation.
- The Root Chakra. Sanskrit Translation: Muladhara. Color: Red. Location: At the bottom of the tailbone–in the perineum for men and the cervical area for women.
- The Sacral Chakra. Sanskrit Translation: Svadhisthana. Color: Orange. Location: In your pelvic region, a couple of inches below the belly button. Also known as ‘the place of the self’, the Sacral Chakra is therefore all about your creative identity as a human.
- The Solar Plexus Chakra. Sanskrit Translation: Manipura. Color: Yellow. Location: In your stomach–around 2-3 inches above the belly button. The Manipura energy center further translates as ‘the lustrous gem.’
- The Heart Chakra. Sanskrit Translation: Anahata. Color: Green. Location: In the chest, in and around the heart space. Interestingly, the Sanskrit term for the Heart Chakra translates to the state of being ‘unhurt.’
- Mountain Pose [Root chakra] This pose involves you standing up straight with your knees slightly bent and your feet spread apart enough so you don’t feel off balance, while moving your shoulders back slightly and breathing slowly.
- Knee-to-Chest [Sacral chakra] Done while you’re laying down, this pose will find you pulling one or both of your knees to your chest, so you look like you’re curling up into a ball.
- Spinal twist [Solar plexus chakra] The spinal twist is done while sitting on a mat or a chair and aims to zero in on your belly button. “As you stay tall while sitting, point your knees, hips and toes in one direction,” Bar says.
- Fan pose [Heart chakra] A modified version of the fish pose, the fan pose aims to open your chest up. “You’re opening up like a fan,” Bar says. “Put your hands behind you and hold the seat back with straight arms, while you’re seated.
Feb 13, 2023 · Learn about the seven main chakras, the energy points in your body that affect your physical and emotional well-being. Find out how to identify and clear blockages, and what each chakra represents.
- Gretchen Stelter
Apr 18, 2022 · Learn what chakras are, how they influence your life, and how to balance and unblock them. Explore the history, functions, and importance of the seven main chakras and their colors, elements, and associations.
Chakras, according to the Bon tradition, enable the gestalt of experience, with each of the five major chakras, being psychologically linked with the five experiential qualities of unenlightened consciousness, the six realms of woe.
